You’d never guess this wild Nissan GT-R started life as a humble Ford Cougar from the 2000s

The Nissan GT-R is a cult classic, but despite the simple exterior, it turns out this one car actually has a wild and unexpected past.

Forget being based on a car from the same brand; it turns out that this vehicle actually started its journey on the road as a Ford Cougar.

The unlikely car combination was spotted for sale on a car auction site, for a pleasing price.

But the history will have you second-guessing what you really know about the GT-R.

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The Nissan GT-R is instantly recognisable

One of the most well-known cars in the industry tends to be the Nissan GT-R thanks to its shape, key features, and engine.

When it was first released, the Nissan GT-R R35 was a seriously powerful car, with origins dating back to models from the 1960s.

Over 48,000 units were produced over the mighty 18-year production run, which first began in 2007, and thanks to its popularity, the car paved the way for sports car performance and innovation.

In fact, during its time in production, power then rocketed from 353kW to 419kW, according to Nissan itself.

So, it will come as no surprise that some auto enthusiasts are trying to snap one up.

Over on German auto site Mobile, one unique Nissan GT-R was spotted for sale, with one huge twist, and some odd reported measurements.

This Nissan hid a huge secret beneath the hood

Despite looking somewhat identical to a standard Nissan GT-R 35, this car couldn’t be more different.

You see, according to the vehicle’s listing, it is actually built on a Ford Cougar, reportedly from the early 2000s, thanks to the car’s short stint on the production line.

The best bit, though? The car only has 932 miles (1,500km) on the clock with its new components, all powered by a 2.5L V6 engine.

The body consists of original bumpers and an aluminum hood, with the seller noting that ‘the rest is fiberglass’.

And the car even comes complete with an exhaust system that replicates the roar of a classic GT-R.

The car is registered in Lithuania, is capable of 163hp, and in total has 3,107 miles (5,000km) on the clock.

So while it’s not as powerful as the car it’s based on, it still looks the part.

Inside the Ford Cougar-turned-Nissan GT-R replica, the design continues to play the role of the sports car with imitation leather and the unique element of sliding doors

Looks can be deceiving, and as the saying goes, fake it ’til you make it, which this Nissan replica clearly does.

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